Quick Resource Guide: Noticed Motions in Civil Cases

How to:

• Alameda County Law Library: CIVIL MOTONS BASICS (Superior Court of California). This page provides an overview of civil motion procedure in Alameda County Superior Court.
• Sacramento County Public Law Library: Motions in Civil Cases – Sacramento County Public Law Library.
• San Diego Law Library: Intro and Overview – Opposing A Motion – LibGuides at San Diego Law Library.

Videos

LA Law Library

Civil Lawsuit Basics: How to Bring a Motion in Court
ON DEMAND: Civil Lawsuit Basics: How to Bring a Motion in Court

Books

• Younger on California Motions, available electronically via Westlaw.
• Civil Procedures: Counter to Courtroom / Court Clerk Training Institute, beginning on Page 64. KFC995 .C68, shelf 108B. Also available electronically via CCTI Reference Materials.
• Litigation by the Numbers, chapter 6. KFC995 .A65 G78 2003, shelved at the Reference Desk.
• California Civil Procedure Before Trial, Chapter 12. KFC995 .C35 2004, CA Collection 1st Floor. Also available electronically via OnLaw.
  • For motions during trial see California Trial Practice: Civil Procedure During Trial, Chapter 18. KFC1025 .C35 1995, CA Collection 1st Floor. Also available electronically via OnLaw.
• Civil Procedure Before Trial (The Rutter Group, California Practice Guide), Chapter 9 Part I. KFC995 .W44 2025, CA Collection 1st Floor. Also available electronically via Westlaw.

Templates

Pleading Paper: available on the Alameda County Law Library Court Forms & Transactional Forms page

Generic Motion Template from Sacramento County Law Library: Motions in Civil Cases – Sacramento County Public Law Library

• Delete paragraph that references Local Rule 1.06 (A) if filing in Alameda County

Court Form Motions: No supporting memorandum is necessary in connection with the following motions filed on Judicial Council forms (CRC 3.1114(a)):
— Application for appointment of guardian ad litem in a civil case (CIV-010);
— Application for an order extending time to serve pleading (CM-020);
— Motion to be relieved as counsel (MC-051, MC-052, MC-053);
— Motion filed in small claims case;

A party may choose to file a memorandum in support of any of these motions if it would further the interests of justice; or the court may order such a memorandum. (CRC 3.1114(b)).

Where to Find Specific Motion Templates

When using a template, you will need to ensure that you have drafted all required parts of the motion and that it is drafted in the correct format:

• California Forms of Pleading and Practice, KFC1010 .A65 C3, shelf 106A – 106B. Also available online via Lexis Advance and the LexisNexis Digital Library
  • Memorandum of Points and Authorities: You will need to view California Points and Authorities, KFC1010 .B46, CA Collection 1st Floor. Also available online via Lexis Advance (print collection is not updated).
• California Law & Motion Model Forms (The Rutter Group, Civil Litigation Series), KFC1012 .A65 P37, shelved at the Reference Desk. Also available online via Westlaw.
• Gale Legal Forms: available on library computers and remotely to library card holders.
• Sacramento County Law Library Documents and Publications.
• San Diego Law Library Guides & Samples.

Opposition Templates:

• Opposing California Civil Motions – Model Opposition Briefs (The Rutter Group, Civil Litigation Series), KFC1012 .P37 2025 CA Collection 1st Floor and Reference. Also available electronically via Westlaw.
• California Law and Motion Authorities for Civil Cases, KFC1012 .A65 P37, Reference. Also available online via Westlaw.
  • Provides authorities that can be used as a basis for opposition to various motions.

Updated 6.26.2026